Bookish Babble: Bookworm Stereotypes

Today I am excited to share with you the first of a new feature on my blog, Bookish Babble! (Oh how I love a good alliteration) I have been wanting to do discussion posts for a while now, however I had many excuses reasons for not attempting a discussion post until this point in my blogging journey. Most of these reasons centered around the fact that I am a big fat chicken and was too scared to put myself out there, but I also had some legit reasons. My biggest reason being that I wanted to build up Cover2CoverMom’s following before attempting discussion posts. After all, what is the point of a discussion post if no one reads it? Without followers, it kind of defeats the whole discussion post concept when it is a one sided discussion. Now I am not saying that I am setting the world on fire in the followers department, but I now feel confident that at least one person is bound to read this post, thus making it all worthwhile.

I’ve been thinking a lot about stereotypes lately, in particular bookworm stereotypes. When you heard the word “bookworm,” there is an image that immediately pops into our heads. Are they true? Am I guilty of the common stereotypes of a bookworm?

» Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms are introverted

I am actually an extroverted person. I am that person at the party that thrives on social interaction. You know that stranger that comes up to you and strikes up a conversation? That’s me. I am energized by being around people. I do have friends that are not fictional characters in a book…

Verdict: Not guilty

»Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms are highly intelligent

“What do you mean you don’t know, I thought you read all the time?” Is it just me, or do people assume you are know everything because you always have a nose in a book? Do people think we all just sit around reading scholarly articles? I rarely read non-fiction, and if I do, it is a memoir from a comedian. My point here is that I read for entertainment, not necessarily for educational purposes…

Verdict: Not guilty

» Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms never leave home without a book

I don’t understand why this isn’t the norm? I never leave home without a book, whether that be a physical book, my kindle, or my phone with my downloaded audiobook via Hoopla. There is something comforting in the knowledge that I always have a book with me in the event that downtime arises.

Verdict: Guilty

» Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms are home-bodies

Where did the idea come from that bookworms never like to leave their homes? Is it true that we would rather stay in with a good book then say go to a party? Probably. This doesn’t mean that we never venture outside of our dwellings… We aren’t all recluse you know.

Verdict: Not guilty

» Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms love to visit the library

I mean does anyone not like to go to the library?! There are thousands of books. It is generally quiet. There are people walking around that love books too. You can get recommendations from a librarian. You go in and can leave with your arms FULL of books and not spend a penny… what’s not to love? Personally I don’t trust people who don’t like to visit the library.

Verdict: Guilty

» Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms are reserved and quiet

If you know me in real life, you would know this is the exact opposite of who I am. I am never NOT talking. Actually now that I think of it, the only time I am not talking is when I am reading… maybe that is where this stereotype comes from. Huh.

Verdict: Not guilty

» Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms are speed readers

I’m not setting any reading records or anything, but I definitely think my reading speed is faster than the occasional reader. I think this comes with the territory. I mean, if you run a lot, isn’t it likely that you will get quicker and quicker the more you run? I think the same applies to reading, the more you do it, the faster you become at it.

Verdict: Guilty

» Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms collect books

Actually I know a lot of bookworms that do not have a ridiculous collection of books. Me on the other hand? I am a self proclaimed book hoarder. My husband has assured me that whenever we move into a bigger home, I will have an entire room with wall to wall shelves dedicated to my personal library. I’m holding him to it.

Verdict: Guilty

» Bookworm Stereotype: Bookworms are “nerdy”

Now, I know everyone has different standards of what makes someone “nerdy.” I would say that I definitely have nerdy tendencies. I go to bookish events. I like to “geek out” about books. I like to wear bookish apparel. If these things make me “nerdy,” then I am not ashamed. If being a nerd is wrong, I don’t want to be right!

Published by Amanda @Cover2CoverMom

Amanda (Cover2CoverMom) is a 29 year-old who was born and bred in Ohio. She is happily married to her high school sweetheart and they have two children aged 10 and 3. She stays home with her kids, which is the best job she could have ever asked for. When she is not busy being a maid, cook, chauffeur, coach, personal assistant, teacher, and referee, she enjoys reading, photography, sports and fitness. To her, books are a way to escape the grind of day to day life. She loves to get swept away in a book that transports her to another time and place. Amanda's reading comfort zones are historical fiction and literary fiction, however she is actively trying to branch out and expand her literature horizons.
View all posts by Amanda @Cover2CoverMom

Alot of the ones you said you were guilty of I found I was not guilty of and vice versa. I did especially loved the one abouy people epecting us to be intellegent because we read though I get that most the time at work!

I’m definitely not a speed reader but find myself having to agree with the stereotypes about being a home body, introvert and reserved and quiet though I’m also loud and sarcastic at times as my coworkers would attest to.😂

I’d not entirely down with classing myself as “nerdy” though, bookish apparel, etc is the same as gaming, wwe and sports apparel really and it’s all cool.😀

You did miss one absolutely massive stereotype though and that is that bookworms are just plain awesome!😀

I’m with you on the bookish appeal vs sports apparel thing, I find it interesting that how some fandoms are deemed socially acceptable and “cool” like sports, while others are deemed “geeky” like comics and Star Trek. I think all fandoms are awesome. People coming together that share common interests ❤️

That’s true, there’s nothing wrong with “geeky” as such but everyone likes what they like, sports are cool to people who like sports and there’s no reason books shouldn’t be cool to readers to. I must admit I don’t have any book apparel but I have loads of WWE t-shirts and band name/logo t-shirts to, no reason for people not to have book apparel of some sort though if it’s what they like and why not support your favourite author, book or genre as opposed to band or sports team.

That’s definitely true about fandoms of anysort though, finding people who share the same interest is always cool.😀

Awww! I LOVED your 1st discussion post Amanda! my husband also made me that same exact promise & I am def holding him to it lol. I am an introvert who when feels comfortable can easily cross into extrovert territory if that makes any sense. I spent many years being socially awkward & still am to some extent lol. The highly intelligent stereotype gets me ALL the time! I’ve had questions start off with “So Lil, you’re the book person right? what does….” and I have no idea what their question has anything to do with my love of leisurely reading -_- BAHAHAHA!

P.S. I was just talking to Gretchen on Tuesday about wanting to do my 1st discussion post early next year LOL! for the same reasons though, I’d also like to work on my following &&&& a bit of will anyone read it? HAHA!

Haha! I take too long to warm up to most things that require me putting myself out there 😂 but I am planning to start early next year. & yea better an intellectual than it’s opposite 😂 thanks Amanda, that mean a lot to me 😃💕

Love this post! You and I had the same answers for EVERY question! I don’t leave home without a book… meaning I DO leave home lol. I’m not quiet and/or anti-social. I do love collecting books and visiting the library. I agree with you on everything you said! Also, I am so glad you have decided to start doing some discussion posts. I can’t wait to see what other great topics you have up your sleeve for discussion!

I’m loving the library less and less as they become more multimedia. I still remember when my hometown library got the first computers and how everything changed. I’m not anti-technology because tech is a big part of today’s literacy, but it made the library a rowdier place for sure. There’s also a videogame area at my current library.

You make an excellent point. I remember reading someone’s post about how they visited the library where they grew up and there were hardly any books!!! It had changed so much. Luckily I live in a small town in Ohio, and we aren’t very technologically advanced YET!

There’s a video game set up in the teen room of my library too! It’s good that they want to get a younger crowd in, but it takes away from books. Also I never go in there because it’s like “the cool kid spot” and I don’t want to wade through noisy teens to browse for books. Fortunately I don’t read a lot of YA.

I would say I’m a mix between introvert and extrovert. I just have days where I’m out going then I have days where I just keep to myself. I’m not a whole of one or the other. I used to go to the library all the time, but since I moved from my hometown I haven’t been to a library. That’s been six years now. It’s sad, now that I think about. I guess I just need to find that library that spoke to me like the one at home, that and small independent bookstores. I miss those. Can’t find that hometown feel in the city. I’m guilty of a few of these, minus book hoarding. I am not the type to go out and buy collections of books or duplicates because of different editions. I’m happy with the ones I have just as long as the covers match!

What a fun post! I love the idea of different book discussions, it’s a great way to interact with the community and get people’s thoughts. I have to say I pretty much said yes to most of those although I do like a night out every once in a while. And I just left the library today with a bunch of FREE books, I mean there’s nothing better than that:)

I picked up The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell, The Lost Boy (Camilla Lackberg) Lesser evils (Joe Flanagan) and The Wolf Road (Beth Lewis). Now I just have to find time to read those on top of all my net galley reads:) The ever expanding TBR pile continues for me. Are you reading anything good this weekend?

I’ve heard good things about The Girls in the Garden and The Wild Road! Enjoy!

I’m reading The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig, which I am really enjoying thus far. The concept of time traveling through maps fascinates me. I am also going to be starting The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (audiobook version).

I understand the wait on discussion posts. Many of mine are pretty quiet, or I feel like I’m talking about stuff that’s already been brought up a zillion times. The one assumption I get a lot is that I’ve read or at least heard of every book someone mentions, esp classics. But I read what I want damnit!

This is such a great post! I definitely feel like I fit a lot of those, especially the ‘anatomy of a bookworm’ drawing! I ❤ that your husband has promised you a book room, that's so adorable 🙂
I'm moving soon and I think a whole room is going to be unrealistic but I am definitely going to be eyeing up places in terms of where I can position a reading nook 🙂

I LOVE this post! And according to this little test, I’m basically the perfect stereotype bookworm haha. Ok, I haven’t visited a library in the last few years (not because I don’t want to, but because there isn’t a good library where I live), and I don’t have as much physical books as I would have liked (mostly because getting English books can be both expensive and complicated where I live), but the rest is basically a very good description of me. Except for the talking. I come across as shy to people who don’t really know me, but my really good friends normally complain about me talking too much. 😀

Here’s what I am NOT guilty of: I am not an introvert, I’m what is called and Introversted Extrovert, I love being around people, striking around conversation and everything but that exhausts me both physically and emotionally, I can’t sustain it for a long time and I need my alone time to recharge. Also, I love going out, maybe even partying sometimes haha, but most of the time, coffeeshops and the beach make me happy.I’m NOT highly intelligent hahaha just yesterday my mom asked me if I knew about Something and when I said know she said “Well, I thought that since you read all the time, you mst have come across it in a book” No, mama. No haha!
What is true is that I definitely am nerdy and never leave the house without my trusty book ❤
Great discussion! You should have started ages ago haha 😀

I didn’t know about it either, I just knew I feet in neither! I discovered it in a Buzzfeed video of all places.
Hahaha right ?! I’m like, no mom! I may know about the grisha, 4 londons, shadowhunters but Idk what you’re talking about 😂

Love discussion posts! I might do some (when I finish with the endless TBR!!!!!)

So… I found it interesting. For example, I love being at home and reading (I used to love partying but not anymore, lol I feel old but I just prefer what in Spain we call “Batamanta” (being covered by a blanket haha), but at the same time I love talking and I never shut up and I’m definitely not reserved, since I keep telling my problems to anyone that might listen hahaha

I wouldn’t say I’m that smart either, I mean, I’m like you, I only read fiction, so if they want my advice on how to get rid of a body then I guess I can help them, but not further than that XD

Amanda, I can’t even begin to say how much I loved this post! This is really true, haha! I have to admit I hit 6/9 stereotypes, tho! Oopsie? Sorry not sorry? Haha! Just like you, I’m very outspoken, both online and offline. If the party is boring, I’m the one that opens the karaoke queue and I don’t even need alcohool to do so. On the other hand, I really love to stay home overall, my offline friends and my ex-college grades accuse me of being intelligent (although I keep telling everybody that streets smart is not the same thing as being truly intelligent and I’m sure I’m street’s smart queen and would never be able to hit medical school, for example), I love nerdy things, I always have a book with me (as I always have my phone with me whenever I go and there is my Kindle App, haha!), I’m also a book hoarder just like you, and I have been accused of reading fast once or twice. Per week. By pretty much everyone I know. Oh well. I think the only sin I make as a book lover is that… I don’t really like to visit libraries. I KNOW, IT’S AWFULL. There aren’t any libraries near my house and I like to buy (aka hoard) the books I like and want to read. I usually don’t trust strangers’ opinions to add titles to my TBR and I hate when people think they know what I need after only 5 minutes of conversation, so the library as a place to actually borrow books is a really no-go to me =( I’m feeling ashamed right now and I’m ready for the retaliation, I deserve it! Congrats on the post, this is just too awesome! Can’t wait for the next =D ❤

Haha I can understand the desire to own the books! I think it may be different for me because I’m a parent and love taking the kids to the library… I didn’t visit the library much in my late teens/early college years…

Bahahaha I’d love to be at a party with you when you busted out some karaoke! Especially if you are singing some awesome 90’s music like Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys ❤️

I was guilty of 7 of these stereotypes…I ain’t even mad about it. Ha! I’m definitely an introverted, nerdy, home body. I like going to the library and perusing, but I also love hoarding my own books. Sometimes I own them so I can eventually give them away. There’s some special kind of joy that comes from matching a person with a book. 🙂

hahah I loved this post!! I’m definitely a homebody though. I just want to stay home and slay dragons in my mind – but often when I do actually go out I love it. It’s a very confusing state of mind.

And omg, the library is a magical place. For the most part I forbid myself from going (which is silly but listen to my reasons) because I already have so many books to read. The dream is that one day I won’t have (literally) hundreds of books to be read on my shelves and I can go along picking random books of the library shelves. That is my favourite thing to do, go in there and just GRAB something. (a book though, not a person . . ). Do you know, I was looking up libraries in Florida the other day and one of them does home deliveries! WHAT EVEN. Are books now pizza? That blew my mind.

Also that whole scenario when someone’s like, omg why don’t you know look at all your books. I just want to smack them with a Tolkien and be like, ask me about dragons and you’ll find I am secretly a wizard. It makes me laugh. In fact, I’m trying to plug my way through a really heavy historical fiction about Scotland atm and omg. I don’t think I’d be able to tell you straight what happened by the end of it. History is so confusing *collapses*

Don’t even mention the N word. I was actually really naughty the other day and requested a bunch of books because I wanted to grab copies of books I wanted to read but didn’t own for when I go to the US 😂😂

I’m guilty of a lot of them but I also know some peeps who love to read for which these stereotypes aren’t true. Some, like yourself, are very extroverted and aren’t homebodies. I’m introverted and a homebody, reserved sometimes and mostly quiet. Of course, I collect books but I’m not a speed reader and wouldn’t call myself intelligent. I do know some things but am not an expert in any one thing. Great post. And I think it was a good plan to get some following first before starting a discussion post, especially since you wanted some feedback on them, conversations and such.